Carolyn Hax: Work-resistant mom punishes everyone

8:33 PM,
Mar. 8, 2013

Written by

Dear Carolyn: My husband and I are friends with a couple who have fallen on hard economic times. The wife hasn't worked since she had her first child 10 years ago, but now that their kids are all in school and money is tight, her husband wants her to go back to work. She is refusing.

This is none of my business. However, she is bad-mouthing him to me and my husband (and I imagine whoever else will listen) and she is asking me to buy stuff from her, like handbags and clothes, that I don't want. It's making everything awkward.

I've told her as much, and that I value our friendship, and maybe it's best that we ...